This is the new Volvo S90 – Volvo’s challenge to the German Premium brands

[nggallery id=2226 template=customlinks]

The Volvo S90 has been  revealed ahead of its debut in January in Detroit and represents a serious challenge to the dominance of the German Premium Brands.

We had the first leaked photo of the new Volvo S90 this morning, but now we get the full, official, reveal with photos and specifications for the car Volvo hope will offer a serious alternative to cars like the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6, as well as other challengers to the German dominance in the premium market like the Jaguar XF.

Just as the leaked photos show – as did the V90 model we saw recently – Volvo has moved the S90 in to new design territory, with the saloon shape of the S90 allowing Volvo’s designers to deliver a car that is more stylish and elegant than was possible with the new XC90.

Built on Volvo’s Scalable Platform Architecture – as is the XC90 – the new S90 will be offered with the same range of engines as its SUV sibling, which means a range-topping S90 T8 with plug-in hybrid help as well as D4 and D5 versions and a petrol T6.

New Volvo S90 Luxury Interior

Where the XC90 lead, the S90 follows, with a cabin that offers the same appealing take on luxury with natural materials, modern slabs of wood, wonderful seats and a dominant portrait tablet-like screen offering terrific functionality and reducing the button clutter in the process.

As you’d expect with a new Volvo, it comes with a plethora of clever functions to enhance safety and ease of use, including a new Pilot Assist – a semi-autonomous driver – and City Safe with large animal detection.

Dr Peter Martens, Volvo VP, said:

The S90 has taken a big stride forwards in terms of driving dynamics, performance and ride. We have completely redesigned the Volvo driving experience from the ground up to deliver a sense of precision, engaging control and comfort,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President, Research & Development at Volvo Car Group.

The S90 is a car Volvo hopes will be able to take the fight to the Germans (and the British) in the premium market, but it’s a bold move that’s not necessarily about building a huge-selling profitable car, but as much about building credibility for Volvo as a maker of proper premium cars.

If the new S90 – just as the XC90 has done – is perceived as the equal of the current dominant marques it will give Volvo a real future.

No prices for the new Volvo S90 have yet been revealed, but it will be arriving in the UK in summer 2016, and we’d expect pricing details to arrive soon after its debut in Detroit in January